Are you "Afraid" of Overcoming Your Fears?

This is something near and dear to my heart.?

Because I've lived for years with so many different fears and not taking action, because of the fear of the unknown, fear of failure and rejection.?

Some examples I'll give you are with my niece buying a car, a new business owner, and for me personally.

When I grew up, I didn't like roller coasters or heights, and I would get motion sickness in the car. So what did I do at the age of 23?

Well after learning how to fly remote control airplanes, I said what would it be like to get a pilot's license?

So of course, I went to the airport and started some flying lessons, and of course… I got sick!!!

But after that lesson, I realized It was the most exciting thing I've ever done in my life up to that point.?

What I did was keep taking action and didn’t stop, and within one year I ended up getting my private pilot's license. All this at 23 years old, which for me was pretty awesome and cool.

I ended up doing this all so quickly, because I followed a process and my mentors, or flight instructor.?

And when I got my license in the mail, I questioned the FAA in their decision making… because did they know that I still had a fear of heights and still didn’t like roller coasters??

So it's amazing what you can accomplish when you overcome some fears.

Another example is with my niece who had never gone to a car dealership before, and she was asking me tips and advice on buying cars.?

I finally said let's stop talking about this and let's just go out to a couple of car dealerships, because action cures fear.?

Taking action is one of the best ways to cure fear.?

Especially when you're trying to reach your goal and trying to make progress.

I told her we're just going to have fun, and that maybe I'll wear an afro wig, pretending I've got hair, but I didn't have time to buy the wig, but we still had a ton of fun with it.?

Another example was with a business owner and new salesperson, when it came to prospecting and contacting new people,l.

I gave them a ton of tips and actually went out with them side by side mentoring them, so they could watch me, teaching them how to communicate and interact.

And when it was her time to start communicating and taking action, it didn't go so well, because it was her first time.?

It's so important to pair and cement the learning with taking action.?

With fear, there are a few different types of fear that most people have, and I have had all of these.?

The fear of the unknown, the fear of rejection and the fear of failure. So I've had to reframe my mindset.

Instead of looking at it as an opportunity to fail, I had to look at it as an opportunity to learn.

Once I switched my mindset to reframe in a positive way, over time it actually helped me out to learn and lean into those experiences so I can begin to learn and grow.?

Sometimes I’ve messed up, sometimes I have felt awesome, and no matter what, it's always a learning process and experience.?

But when you do things over and over through repetition, you improve. Your fear usually lessens. It becomes a habit, then you can start to add in and layer more complexity.

When it comes to these failures, it's important to realize that you can stew or plan all day long. As I've spent years having the fear of rejection, the fear of failure and fear the unknown.

But until you take that step and walk through that door, just one small step, figuratively or literally, you won't realize how simple it can be. How simple it most likely is.?

Because most of our fears are irrational, since they are not life and death decisions. Going to a car dealer is not a life and death situation, or reaching out to a new prospect. And typically, nor is riding a roller coaster or flying in a plane.?

You want to make sure that you're on target, and that you don't have irrational fears controlling you.?

TIPS…

1. So one of the best ways to learn is to have a mentor to come alongside you for guidance.

1. Another way is to visualize your ultimate outcome, and what your challenges might be, and how you overcome them. Rehearse some scenarios beforehand.

1. Also, having a vision of a bigger goal that excites you. This is how I was able to get my pilot's license and I didn't like roller coasters or heights, and the motion sickness that I dealt with. I focused on the ultimate goal achievement.

1. It's also important to change your mindset, reframe failures into learning experiences.?

1. Be curious about the new opportunities you're presented with.

The most important and biggest thing I think, is that you need to just take action!!!

Follow-up on the 3 examples I gave earlier of my niece, the new business owner (salesperson) and me learning to fly…

1. My niece had such a fun time going with me to 2 dealers, that before the week was over, she purchased a car on her own that she named “Luna”.
2. The new business owner, after taking initiative to reach out to a prospect, has had her confidence skyrocket. We discussed how she could improve, and she has been more proactive in her outreach.?
3. In regards to getting my private pilot’s license. Even though I initially thought the FAA was crazy in giving it to me, I have not surrendered it back them. I’ve been flying for 32 years. Now I’ve trained in 5 different types/models of aircraft (Cessna 152, Cessna 172-M, Cessna 172-SP, Piper Cherokee, Piper Archer, and the Citabria). I also have a tailwheel endorsement. And for almost 3 decades I thought it was insane to jump from a perfectly good aircraft, but now have let go of that fear, and can say that I have been skydiving twice!! (Note - I still don’t like roller coasters, but skydiving is AWESOMELY INSANE!!!!!

In conclusion...

Imagine not letting fears hold you back.?

Now everything is a “learning experience”, and you cannot fail!!!

To take action to learn, grow your skillset and confidence.?

What could you achieve?

What could stand in your way of going after that thing that you so most desire?

Who or what could hold you back?

Action overcomes your fears.

When you become action-oriented, and develop that as a habit, soon you'll be doing that in many areas of your life.

You don't have to jump off a cliff, take huge steps or strides. You just have to take small actions, to develop new habits.?

As Henry Ford is quoted as saying… “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

So get rid of those fears and don't be afraid to take the next step.

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